Accident vs. Incident
The FAA defines an accident as:
Aircraft Accident – an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft which takes
place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight and until such time as all such persons have disembarked, and in which any person suffers death or serious injury, or in which the aircraft receives substantial damage. All aspects of the exceptions to substantial damage (see “Substantial Damage”) should be considered before making a final substantial damage determination that would classify the occurrence as an accident.
The FAA’s Office of Accident Investigation and Prevention is the principal organization within the FAA that will investigate and accident or incident.
It’s never too soon to contact an aviation attorney for a consultation after an accident.